Feb. 5, 2008

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DeKalb, Ill. - A deadly combination of Buffalo junior guard Andy Robinson and a season-high 29 turnovers for Northern Illinois proved to be the difference as the visiting Bulls picked up their first Mid-American Conference victory of the season with the 89-81 win over the Huskies at the NIU Convocation Center on Tuesday night.

Robinson was 13-for-18 from the field and 8-for-10 from three-point range to finish with a game-high 35 points. The Bulls scored 35 points off the Huskie turnovers.

"The kid did a nice job of coming off screens," NIU head men's basketball coach Ricardo Patton said. "He was running a fever at one point.  If he doesn't have a career night, it's a different game.  We need the same thing, someone to step up." 

Robinson was one of five Bulls' players in double-figures followed by Max Boudreau (14 points), Calvin Betts (11 points) and 10 points apiece from Byron Mulkey and Sean Smiley.

With the victory, Buffalo improves to 7-14 overall and 1-8 in conference play, while the Huskies fall to 5-16 on the season and 2-7 in MAC action.

"I don't know that anyone that didn't know Buffalo's record would believe that they were winless in the conference if they saw them play tonight," Patton said. "They played as well defensively as any team we've played all year.  They denied passes, forced our offense further out than where we wanted it and caused havoc."  

NIU junior guard Jarvis Nichols (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North/Pratt C.C.), returned from his one-game absence due to injury and finished with a season-high and team-best 22 points.

Senior forward Shaun Logan (Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott/Kirkwood C.C.) added 16 points and nine rebounds, while teammate Darion Anderson (Chicago, Ill./Carver Military Academy) posted his fourth consecutive double-figure contest with 13 points.

The Huskies finished with a season-best 45 rebounds, besting their previous high of 44 set against Bowling Green (1/27/08). NIU was solid from the free-throw line as they drained a season-best 24-of-30 (80.0%) charity shots.

NIU is back in action on Saturday, February 9, as they travel to Ohio to square off with Kent State. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. (CST).

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